A devastating downpour struck southern Thailand this week, as Hat Yai city recorded 335 mm of rain in a single day — the heaviest rainfall there in 300 years, according to the country’s Royal Irrigation Department. Over a span of three days, some areas saw cumulative rainfall reach 630 mm — an extremely rare event described by local authorities as a “once-in-300-years” storm.
Widespread flooding, death toll rising across southern Thailand
The torrential rains triggered massive flash floods across at least nine southern provinces. Houses, streets and even hospitals were submerged — in one case, floodwaters cut off a maternity ward housing 30 newborns. As rescue operations continue, the confirmed death toll has climbed. Officials now report at least 33 people killed in the floods, including from electrocution, drowning and flood-related accidents.
Crisis response — mass evacuations, military and navy deployed
The disaster has displaced millions: nearly 2.7 million people across Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia have been affected, and hundreds of thousands of homes flooded or damaged. In response, the Thai military has mobilised a large-scale rescue and relief effort — using helicopters, boats and even the country’s only aircraft carrier to reach stranded residents, evacuate critically ill patients, and deliver food and medical supplies.
Beyond Thailand — floods battering Southeast Asia at large
Thailand’s turmoil comes amid a broader wave of flooding and landslides across Southeast Asia. Countries including Vietnam and Malaysia are also seeing heavy rainfall, displacement, and rising death tolls. Experts warn that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent — a trend many attribute in part to climate change.
What’s next — relief, recovery, and climate warning
Authorities in Thailand have declared a disaster zone in the worst-hit provinces and are focusing on immediate needs: safe shelters, clean water, medical care and relief supplies for those displaced. But the scale of destruction — submerged homes, damaged infrastructure, flooded hospitals — poses a long recovery road. For many communities across southern Thailand, life has been upended.
At the same time, this crisis serves as a stark warning: as the climate warms and weather patterns grow more volatile, even events labelled “once-in-300-years” may no longer be anomalies. For Hat Yai and beyond, rebuilding must now go hand-in-hand with strengthening resilience against future deluges.
